Refrigeration system



G. HILGER REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed A ril 50. 1926 `March 13, 1928.

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. 14 supported near the ceilmgrof the 'room by GEORGE HILGER, 0F

y 1,662,306l PATENTI OFFICE.

carence, TLLTNoIs.

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Application led April 30,

The present invention relates to improvements in refrigeration systems and has more particular reference to the so-called spray lsystems wherein a cooling liquid is sprayed rooms and the like whereby the food products contained in such rooms may be refrig erated eliiciently and without shrinkage or danger of deteriorationor s oiling due to the deposition of moisture or rine on them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray refrigeration system having a novel cooling means for removing the moisture romthe spray-cooled air,-which means includes a coil through which the cooling liquid is passed before it is sprayed into the air in the cooling chamber. l

Other objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with .the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cold storage room equipped with a refrigeration sys:

tem embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line. 2-2 of Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a cold storage room embodying another form of the invention. 4 l

While I haveshown in the drawings and will herein describe the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that I do notintend to be limited therebyJ to the particular forms disclosed, but aim to cover' all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope ofvthe in ventlon as expressed inthe ap dedjclaims. g

eferring to the exemplary embodiments of the invention, the numerals 10and 11 represent respectivelythe top and side walls of a cold storage room which is divided into an upper cooling chamber 12 and a` relatively larger chamber 13 forlstoring food products to be refrigerated. These chambers are defined in the present instance by a partition wall in the form of a shallow tank horizontal cross beams 15. o provide 'conlooting passageways 16` at opposite ends of the air b tank to l particles which may remain su 1926. Serial No. 105,619.

the chambers, the tank is made substantially equal in width to the refrigeration room but shorter than the room. The two chambers are. thus ,arranged for the Acontinuous circulation of airthrough them. A suitable pan 17 may be suspended from the beams 15 to catch the .drippings from the tank.

Brine lor other suitable cooling liquid may be used for spraying in the system, this belng contained and cooled in the tank 14 inthe present instance. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, cooling of the liquid in the tank is exected by a coiled pipe 18 having its inlet end 19 and its outlet end y20'connected to an outside source of refrigerating agent such as the ordinary compress1on type unit employing ammonia or other refrigerant. Preferably the inlet portion of the refrigerating coil is disposed above one end of the tank and in the path of the air flowing out of the chamber 12. c, The re- 'nsl mainder of the coil is positioned below the level of the liquid in the tank. Since the refrigerant Hows through the exposed portion of .the coil and then through the immersed portion, the former will always be maintained at a temperature somewhat below that of the liquid in the tank. l

To mix the coohng liquid intimately with the air in the chamber 12 and thereby cool the air quickly and elii'ciently, the liquid is drawn from t tank and sprayed or atomized into the air. This may be aecomplished by one or more nozzles 21 positioned above the tank preferably near the` inlet end of the cooling chamber and sup lied with liquid under pressure by a suita le powerdrlven pump 22 having its intake connected with the tank outlet pipe 23. To induce slow continuous circulation `of the spraycooled air, the nozzles are arranged to direct the sprayl longitudinally of the chamber. Thus, the air cooled by the spray will be forced downwardly into the storage chamber 13 at one end of the room and. warm ,air from the lstorage chamber will be drawn into the cooling chamber at the other end of the room.

Most of the cooling liquid introduced into the nozzles falls back into the cooled and used over again. Some of the liquid, however, may be carried forward vwith the cooled air either in the form ofwater vapor or as a fog of minute nded ir the air. To prevent any of the iquid thus held in the air by orming small particles the food lproducts in the storage chamber, means is provided for removing it before the cooled air leaves the cooling chamber.`

One means employed forthis purpose comprises a series of parallel baiile plates 245 extending across the cooling chamber in thepath of the spray-cooled air. These plates provide large cold surfaces upon which part of the sus ended particles of liquid will collect there y being removed from the air.

The exposed portidn of the refrigerating coil 18 constitutes a secondary means for dehydrating the spray-cooled air. As theI air passes into the cooling zone surrounding the coil, its temperature is reduced, such further cooling of the air causing the suspended particles of moisture or brine which may ave escaped precipitation in the baille plates to unite forming large,drops which Will settle out quickly fallin-g directly into the tank or becomin deposited upon the surface of the coil. Wing to this further cooling of the air, a ortion of its Water vapor is also condense 4at this point, which condensation further assists in the coagulaf tion of the liquid sus endedfor mechanically which uniteV with thev suspended spray" particles. It will -be ap arent that the combined eiect of the bafiies and the condensing coil 18 is to remove all of the suspende' particles of liquid which otherwise would be carried into the storage chamber. The baiiles serve as a primary precipitating means while the condensing coil removes any articles which -are not removed in the ailles.

Other' means may be rovided for further cooling the spra -coole air. For example, in the form of t e inventionA shown in Fig.y 3, the cooling liquid itself is used for this purpose. o this end a coiled pipe 25 is mounted in the path of the spray-cooled air, one end of the pipe being connected with a pressure pump 26 arranged to draw. the cool-- ing liquid from the tank 14.- and force the .liquid through the coiled pipe. The other end of the coil leads to spray nozzles 27 at the opposite end of the spray chamber. Since the cooling liquid passing through the coiled pipe 25 willalways be somewhat colder than the'air Acooled by the spray, `further cooling of the spray-cooled air will be effected which will serve to precipitate moistureor bine `carried forward with the circulatin lair and escaping precipitation in tle' ba e plates. l It will be apparent that the coil 25 functions in the same Way as the refrigerating coil 18 shown in Fig. 1.

The arrangement just described has par ticular utility in systems where ice-'is used "to refrigerate the cooling liquid or where v the liquld is cooled at some point outside of the refrigeration room. Fig. illustrates throu h said coil and t 'through said condensin the use of a system employingice-as the refri'gerating agent, the blocks 28 being immersed in the liquid in the tank. Suitable -means (not shown) may be provided to carry awaythe overflow liquid resulting from melting of the ice.

ith the system of refrigeration which I` any moisture or brine` carried by the air' being deposited on the food products. Fur-l thermore, inasmuch as the incoming air is saturated, the degree of saturation of the'air surrounding the food products will always posite ends of said chambersrmeans for containing a supply of coolin liquid, refrigerating means to cool sai' liquid, means operable to mix said liquid with the air in said upper chamber, said mixin means being locaiednear the inleti'end o said upper chamber, a coiled pipe'positioned near the outlet end of said upper chamber,

pnd means operable to supply said liquid to `be relatively high. Shrinkage of the food i;

having, in, comsaid coil and then to de iver the liquid to V said. mixing means. n

2: A refrigerationA system comprising, in combination, means providing cooling and storage chambers connected at their opposite ends, a coiled pipe positioned near the outlet4 endl of said cooling chamber,- a nozzle connected to one end of said coiled pipe and positioned near the inlet of said cooling chamber, -a source of. cooling liquid, and means to pump theli uid from said source to sai nozzle.

3. A refrigeration system having, in combination, a cooling chamber arranged for the pump operable to pass 'said cooling li uid means and tten deliver the liquid to sai nozzle. l

4. A .refrigeration system having, in com' binatiom'in'eans providing a cooling cham- Aber, a nozzle and acoiled pi e positioned at opposite ends of said cham er, means .for containing a cooling liinxiid, and meansr to pump 'the liquid throng nozzle. l

en deliver theliquid 115 circulation of air therethrough, a source'of cooling l1 u1d, a condensing means and a" vspray nozz e located in said; chamber, and a 5. A refrigeration s stem having, in combination, means provi ing a cooling chamber arranged for the free circulation of air therethrough, a tank in said chamber adapted to contain a liquid to be cooled, a coil positioned above said tank near the outlet end of said chamber, a nozzle arranred in the inlet end of said chamber and directed toward said coil, and a pump to draw'said liquid from said tank and deliver it to said nozzle through said coil.

.6. A refrigeration system having, in combination, means providing a cooling chamber, a spray nozzle arrangedA to discharge liquid longitudinally of said chamber to cool the air in the chamber and to inducey circulation of the air, a condenser positioned in the path of the cooled air, a source of cooling liquid, and means for passing said liquid through said condenser and said nozzle under pressure.

7 A refrigeration system having, in combination, means providing a cooling chamber, a coiled pipe positioned near the outlet end of said chamber, a source of cooled liquid, a nozzle near the inlet end of said chamber arrangedto discharge liquid toward said coil, said nozzle being connected .with one end' of the coil, and means to supply said liquid under pressure to the other end of said coil.

8. A refrigeration system having, in combination, a chamber arranged for the circulation of air therethrough, a pipe line, a source of cooling liquid, means to supply said liquid to one end of saidline, means at the dischargeend of said line to mix said liquid with the air in said chamber whereby to cool the air, and a condensing means interposed in said line in the path of the cooled air.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

(-irllORGrE4 HILGEB. 

